His game just became infinitely more dangerous, and yet, there was a small thrill that made his stomach tighten at the idea of learning more about the Dark. She was thoroughly intoxicating to look at, and if the intelligence he spotted shining through her eyes was any indication, she was going to completely fascinate him.
His mind made up, Kiril walked to her wearing his most charming smile. “Find anything you fancy?” he asked as he nodded to the window of sparkling jewelry.
She laughed, the sound making his blood heat. “I love the glitter of the gems. It’s a weakness.” Her head tilted slightly as her red eyes regarded him. “It’s not every day that a Scot visits Ireland. What brings you to our green isle?”
“Business. And pleasure.”
She let her gaze slowly wander over him. Kiril wished he knew what she was thinking, and if she liked what she saw. When her gaze returned to him, her smile of approval said it all.
It was all he could do not to press her against the window and devour her lips in a kiss that would leave them both breathless.
She shifted her small silver clutch from one hand to another. “I’ve lived in Cork all my life. It’s a beautiful city, isn’t it?”
Kiril nodded and belatedly noticed the Dark who had been watching him were gone. He had taken the bait, after all. It also made him aware of just how completely he was enamored of the female. He was going to have to watch himself for sure, lest he find himself bound in chains. “Are you waiting on someone?”
“I was. They’re late, and I’m tired of waiting,” she said, her eyes posing an invitation her words hadn’t.
The offer was on the table. All Kiril had to do was take it. It was tempting, or rather she was. It would be a treacherous obstacle of quicksand if he accepted it.
The lies would grow, the deceptions would spread. But if he succeeded, the rewards for the Dragon Kings could be numerous.
Kiril held out his arm. “Would you like to join me for dinner?”
Her gaze lowered to the ground as she smiled coyly and took his arm. “I would like that very much.”
They strolled arm in arm down the sidewalk toward the Italian restaurant that was his favorite.
“Glad to have you back,” the ma?tre d’ said with a wide grin and motioned them to follow.
Kiril guided the woman ahead of him with his hand on her lower back. He felt her shiver when his fingers grazed her bare skin. He couldn’t hold back his satisfied smile. She had been sent to seduce him, but she wasn’t immune to his touch. That could work to his advantage. It gave him the thought to try to flip her to their side. It would be nearly impossible since the Dark Fae were notoriously devoted to their families.
A Dark’s family was everything from their rank in their society to their authority. The more powerful a family, the more influence and control was to be had. It was archaic almost the way they bartered their daughters and sisters to gain rank within their antiquated and disgusting social system.
It was a challenge though, and Kiril loved challenges. Besides, with as beautiful as the Dark was, he didn’t think he was going to mind the effort. To know the feel of her skin, to sample the essence of her sex.
Desire, dark and profound, smoldered through him. It wasn’t the passion that alarmed him, but the raw, visceral need to know her, the yearning to taste her.
The hunger to fill her.
That desire swelled and intensified, spread and multiplied with every second they were together. It consumed him, devoured him. He was being incinerated from the inside out with a need that burned as hot as dragon fire.
Kiril slid into the half-moon-shaped booth beside her and promptly ordered a bottle of wine.
He opened the menu and decided to push her. It was either that or kiss her, and he was afraid if he started kissing her, he wouldn’t be able to stop. Kiril didn’t think anyone in the restaurant would want to see him have sex. “Why did you accept my invitation?”
Surprise flickered in her deep red eyes. “I was hungry, and you offered.”
“Do you often go off with strange men?”
She laughed, the sound going straight to his cock. “You’re the first. I’m Shara, by the way.”
“Kiril.”
“Kiril. A strong, unusual name.”
He set aside the menu and regarded her. It was strange. He normally hated looking into the eyes of a Dark Fae. Something about red eyes seemed wrong, but he didn’t seem to mind it with Shara.
Shara. What a beautiful name to match such an intriguing, captivating woman.
She cleared her throat and set her napkin in her lap. Her lips parted to speak, but before she could, the waiter brought the wine. Kiril continued to watch her even as he sampled the wine and nodded his approval to the server. Once their glasses were filled and their order given, the attendant walked away.
“You were saying?” he prompted her.
“I was going to ask, what kind of business are you in?”
Kiril thought about spinning another lie, and then realized there was no need. She knew he was a Dragon King, knew that he was from Dreagan. One less lie could only help him.